Hanzi Writer

How to Write 用 (yòng) — Meaning “To use”

yòng HSK Level 1 5 strokes Radical: 用

用 (yòng) means "To use" in Chinese. It has 5 strokes with the radical 用, and is HSK Level 1.

Rated 2.2/5 in difficulty (moderate).

Harder than 25% of HSK Level 1 characters.

Appears in 3+ common words including 使用 (shǐ yòng), 有用 (yǒu yòng), 用心 (yòng xīn).

Hanzi Writer's stroke validation shows learners typically need 5-8 attempts to write 用 with correct proportion and order.

Stroke order practice for 用 - yòng

Practice Writing 用 (yòng)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 用 with real-time feedback.

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How to Write 用

The character 用 (yòng) is written with 5 strokes. Follow the standard Chinese stroke order: top to bottom, left to right, outside before inside. The radical 用 is one of its key components.

Practice the correct stroke order with the Hanzi Writer app to see animated stroke-by-stroke guidance with real-time feedback.

What Does yòng (用) Mean in Chinese?

用 means To use.

As an HSK Level 1 character, 用 is among the first characters beginners learn.

Character Data

Character用
Pinyinyòng (yong)
MeaningTo use
Strokes5
Radical用
HSK Level1
Difficulty2.2/5

Origin of 用

In ancient oracle bone script, 用 depicted a bucket or container with a handle, symbolizing a tool for carrying or holding something—hence the meaning 'to use'.

💡 Memory Tip: Visualize the character 用 as a bucket with a handle; you pick it up to use it.

Common Words with 用

使用 shǐ yòng
to use; to employ
有用 yǒu yòng
useful
用心 yòng xīn
Attentive / Diligent

Example Sentences

请正确使用电脑。

qǐng zhèng què shǐ yòng diàn nǎo

Please use the computer correctly.

这本书很有用。

zhè běn shū hěn yǒu yòng

This book is very useful.

他学习很用心。

tā xué xí hěn yòng xīn

He studies very attentively.

Similar Characters Comparison

Character Pinyin Strokes Radical
用 (current) yòng 5 用
甩 shuǎi 5 用
甪 lù 6 用
甫 fǔ 7 用
Stroke order practice for 用 - yòng

Practice Writing 用 (yòng)

Open Hanzi Writer to see the animated stroke order and practice writing 用 with real-time feedback.

✨ Animated stroke order · Handwriting recognition · HSK-graded practice · Free to use

App Store ▶ Google Play

Frequently Asked Questions about 用

The character 用 is its own radical and is not broken into smaller components. Its shape is pictographic, originally depicting a bucket or tool, which connects to the idea of 'using' something.

More HSK Level 1 Characters

爱ài好hǎo/hào八bā爸bà吧ba/bā白bái天tiān百bǎi班bān半bàn年nián帮bāng忙máng包bāo子zi/zǐ杯bēi北běi边biān京jīng本běn

Characters with Radical 用

甩shuǎi甪lù甫fǔ甬yǒng甭béng

Other 5-Stroke Characters

㐌yí㐱zhěn㢟chān且qiě丕pī世shì丘qiū丙bǐng业yè丛cóng